Jackson: We just found out who the spy was, and he’s terminated. He’s no longer working right now. So we found out exactly who the spy was…and it’s true, everything I said was true.
Jones: So who was the spy, Rampage? If you don’t mind answering that. Why don’t you tell the world who the spy was?
Jackson: We just found out who the spy was, and he’s terminated. He’s no longer working right now. So we found out exactly who the spy was…and it’s true, everything I said was true.
Jones: So who was the spy, Rampage? If you don’t mind answering that. Why don’t you tell the world who the spy was?
Jackson: You know who the spy was. Only reason why I won’t tell the world who it is, because the guy did work at MusclePharm and the guys at MusclePharm found him and they fired him, and I didn’t want to bring MusclePharm on top…His name is Leonard, and you know Leonard because you were sending him K-Swiss shoes and stuff and everything from your manager. He’s great friends with your manager, and you know I’m telling the truth.
Jones: I was sending him K-Swiss shoes? I have no clue who Lennox [sic] is, Rampage. You need help, buddy.
Jackson: Whatever, dude. You sound guilty, homey.
Speculation has centered on Leonard Amenta, an Executive Vice President of MusclePharm who resigned last Friday. As Jones tweeted in response, “Sucks some poor guy at musclepharm got fired over rampages paranoia.”
Quinton Jackson has been training at the MusclePharm gym in Denver for the past two months, as part of a personalized training camp that has cost over one million dollars. (Not all of that came out of his own pocket, thankfully.) Damn. I wonder how much of that was spent on high-tech surveillance equipment?
Question: Assuming a spy existed in Rampage’s training camp, do you really think that Jon Jones knew about it, or that he ordered the recon mission himself? I’m still willing to believe that this was a rogue employee who leaked info to Jones’s manager for his own motivations. What inside information could Jones possibly hope to gain here? Hell, we already know how Quinton throws that hook…
Yay! Josh Barnett passes his Strikeforce Drug Test: here. Just like a long legion of former UFC fighters, except for maybe this one, Paul Daley is really sorry and wants very badly to be back.
Yay! Josh Barnett passes his Strikeforce Drug Test: here.
Just like a long legion of former UFC fighters, except for maybe this one, Paul Daley is really sorry and wants very badly to be back with the promotion: here.
Strikeforce‘s last ditch impressive effort to make a really good fight card for Showtime with Gilbert Melendez, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Gina Carano and Keith Jardine: here.
The UFC to get more out of the Brazilian Real than the US Dollar in 2012 with 4 or 5 events planned and a TUF season: here.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson insinuates Ariel Helwani is a married man who might be gay, maybe because Cheick Kongo is giving Helwani kisses (VIDEO): here.
Strikeforce Challengers 19 airs on Showtime network tonight. Get live play-by-play: here.
Check out the UFC 135 at 4:00pm (MT) weigh-ins: here.
Enjoy more pics of Vanessa Hudgens at pumping her own gas below and: here.
Filed under: UFC, NewsThe UFC’s version of “Spygate” may still be lingering, but it doesn’t matter much now. One of the most anticipated title fights in recent UFC memory goes down Saturday, spy or no spy.
The UFC‘s version of “Spygate” may still be lingering, but it doesn’t matter much now. One of the most anticipated title fights in recent UFC memory goes down Saturday, spy or no spy.
Main event light heavyweights Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson were both on the mark Friday for their title fight, which headlines UFC 135 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The official weigh-in event took place at the Wells Fargo Theater at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
Jones defends the light heavyweight title for the first time since winning it against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March. He took that fight on short notice, filling in for then-teammate Rashad Evans when Evans was hurt. Evans now waits in the wings to fight the winner of Jones-Jackson.
Jones, who typically looks away from his opponents during staredowns at the weigh-ins, this time looked right at Jackson and the two talked back and forth to each other in animated fashion before being split apart by UFC president Dana White.
“I had to tell him I’m going to end his hype tomorrow, that’s what I told him,” Jackson told emcee Joe Rogan. “It’s about time he grew up and started acting like a real MMA fighter. We stare each other down – that’s what we do in the UFC.”
Jones had very little to say: “I feel real good. I’ve done enough talking, and it’s time for me to show what I’ve got now. So let’s do it.”
The training camp period for the title fight was interrupted by controversy after Jackson’s camp accused the Jones camp of planting a spy to monitor the challenger’s training – which Jones’ side vehemently denied.
In the co-main event, former title challenger Josh Koscheck returns for the first time since losing to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in December. He takes a short notice fight against UFC Hall of Famer and former world champion Matt Hughes. Koscheck was 170.5 pounds; Hughes was 170.
The main card opens with an intriguing lightweight fight between up-and-down fighters Nate Diaz and Takanori Gomi. Diaz has lost two straight fights, but is always a candidate for an exciting bout. And Gomi has lost two of three since joining the UFC after a lengthy career in Japan. Both losses have been by submission.
And in a pair of heavyweight fights, Travis Browne looks to remain unbeaten when he meets Rob Broughton. And former IFL star Ben Rothwell returns after a long injury layoff to meet Mark Hunt.
The preliminary card features five fights. The first three will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook fan page, including a bantamweight bout between former title challenger Takeya Mizugaki and Cole Escovedo.
Those three fights will be followed by a pair of bouts on Spike TV starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. Tony Ferguson, winner of Season 13 of “The Ultimate Fighter” this past June, fights for the first time since winning that title. He’ll drop down to lightweight to take on veteran Aaron Riley. And at middleweight, Tim Boetsch meets TUF veteran Nick Ring.
UFC 135 takes place Saturday with the main card airing on pay-per-view at 9 p.m. Eastern.
The complete weigh-in results are below:
Main Card
Jon Jones (204.5) vs. Quinton Jackson (204)
Matt Hughes (170) vs. Josh Koscheck (170.5)
Ben Rothwell (263) vs. Mark Hunt (261)
Travis Browne (255) vs. Rob Broughton (261)
Nate Diaz (156) vs. Takanori Gomi (155) Preliminary Card
Tony Ferguson (155) vs. Aaron Riley (155)
Nick Ring (185) vs. Tim Boetsch (186)
Junior Assunção (145) vs. Eddie Yagin (145)
Takeya Mizugaki (135) vs. Cole Escovedo (135)
James Te Huna (205) vs. Ricardo Romero (205)
Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson made an appearance this week together on Jimmy Kimmel Live and sat alongside Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil seemed to be favoring Jones, especially when the UFC Light Heavyweight Champ.
Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson made an appearance this week together on Jimmy Kimmel Live and sat alongside Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil seemed to be favoring Jones, especially when the UFC Light Heavyweight Champ asked him what was wrong with Rampage. Later, the daytime talk show host tweeted this picture of his staredown with Jones. It’s not as intense as the one here with Rampage. But I guess when a staredown happens between two well dressed men in button down shirts and slacks, it’s a little less intimidating and a lot more…metro?
Raise your hand if you think Quinton Jackson is going to win. Anyone? No one? Yeah, that sounds about right.Jon Jones is likely the best athlete that the UFC has seen and is one of UFC’s best pound-for-pound fighter.Jackson is not as talented of a figh…
Raise your hand if you think Quinton Jackson is going to win. Anyone? No one? Yeah, that sounds about right.
Jon Jones is likely the best athlete that the UFC has seen and is one of UFC’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
Jackson is not as talented of a fighter as he was in his prime, but he has been destroying fighters for the past decade. When he steps into the ring, he immediately attacks his opponents. He doesn’t hold back, and he has a ton of power.
Jones relies on speed, unorthodox striking and ridiculous submission techniques.
Jackson does have the experience edge against Jones, but his stand-up fighting style tends to wear down fighters, which was evident by his fight with Rashad Evans. He was dominated by Evans, much like he will be dominated by Jones.
The biggest factor in this fight will be Jones’ speed. He is lighting fast, quick and very tough to get a grasp on. He is a spark plug inside the cage and will constantly be on the move inside the ring. He won’t give Jackson the opportunity to land one of his huge punches, as he will stay moving around throughout the fight.
The speed that Jones brings to the ring is unmatched in the light heavyweight division. Jackson is going to be in for a long, difficult fight against Jones.
Jackson could get lucky and land a huge punch, but chances are he will find himself knocked out late in this fight.
Filed under: UFCIt’s been an interesting week in Denver, what with both UFC 135 main eventers chipping away at each other in their own unique ways. With the fight nearly upon us, I submit some thoughts, predictions, and questions for your consideration…
It’s been an interesting week in Denver, what with both UFC 135 main eventers chipping away at each other in their own unique ways. With the fight nearly upon us, I submit some thoughts, predictions, and questions for your consideration.
I. When did respect and humility become so important to “Rampage” Jackson? It must have been very, very recently, since I seem to recall him being less than respectful in the pre-fight exchanges with Rashad Evans. And remember Darrill “Titties” Schoonover, who Jackson bullied repeatedly during a coaching stint on TUF? Let’s go ask him how important respect is to Jackson. I get it, he’s feeling dissed by Jones and, possibly, the media and the oddsmakers. But as Jackson spent all week harping on Jones’ lack of respect, it was hard not to wonder when the challenger had decided to eschew bad breath jokes and personal insults in favor of treating everyone like he’d want to be treated. It must have been after he compared Jones to a monkey he saw at the zoo, just like his sudden love of humility must have come after he predicted that Jones would have to be woken up in the cage following Saturday’s fight. I guess when Jackson says fighters should show respect, he means they should show it to him.
II. And, while we’re on the subject, why can’t Jon Jones just admit that he thinks he’s pretty great? It’s not like anyone would blame him. Look at what he’s done. Just a few years after putting on the gloves for the first time he’s the UFC light heavyweight champion. A guy like that can be cocky. After all, it ain’t bragging if it’s true. The problem is, he’s trying very hard to present a certain hand-crafted, squeaky clean image to the fans, but they’re no longer buying it. He claims not to care what people think of him, but in reality it seems like few UFC champions care more. The claim that he’s somehow disrespected Jackson more than Jackson has disrespected him doesn’t hold up, but Jones certainly has a high opinion of his own skills, and he’s not the only one. If he’d just admit it, it couldn’t be used against him so effectively.
III. My God, this spying nonsense. With all this talk about secret espionage, how is it that there hasn’t been a single statuesque Russian woman involved? Or a dude with an eye patch? At least a spit bucket that is also a smoke bomb. Worst spy story ever.
IV. Matt Hughes says he hasn’t made a decision, but he definitely doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to retire soon. If he did, this would be a sensible fight to end on. His contract is coming up, he claims he doesn’t want to stick around into his forties, so why not call it now? My guess is, it’s because he’s hoping he’ll put out a win over Josh Koscheck and then he’ll be able to ride this train for at least one or two more fights. His wife wants him to quit. His boss doesn’t see what else he’d have to fight for. All signs are pointing toward retirement. The fact that Hughes is adamant about making no decision yet — just as he is adamant that the outcome of this fight doesn’t really matter — tells you that he desperately wants to stay in the UFC just a little while longer. If Koscheck puts a beatdown on him (and I suspect he will), the case for a continued Hughes run is going to be hard to make.
V. If Travis Browne can put his size to work, Rob Broughton could be in for a rough night. Seeing those two heavyweights near each other in the gym on Thursday, it became very apparent that Broughton’s biggest challenge will be getting in close. He’d probably like to put Browne on the mat, but at 6’7″ Browne is a lot of humanity to try and forcibly relocate. If he keeps Broughton at a distance, this should be Browne’s fight to lose.
VI. Will Nate Diaz opt to stand and bang against an opponent who excels at that (and, at this point, little else)? If you’re Takanori Gomi, you probably hope so. The Japanese import has not been so stellar on the ground lately, and he did get submitted by Diaz’s older brother (who then got submitted by the NSAC’s drug testing procedures, but whatever). But if Diaz comes out looking to box, he gives Gomi more of a chance than he needs to. Gomi still hits hard (just ask Tyson Griffin) and he’s always gotten high marks in the brawlability category. That doesn’t mean Diaz can’t beat him on the feet, but why risk it if you don’t have to? Maybe just because you’re a Diaz, and that’s what Diazes do.
VII. Ben Rothwell is a brand new fighter…again. I like Rothwell as a person, and I see what he’s trying to say, but what is this, like the third time he’s declared himself to be a new man? He’s been gone for a bit with injuries, so this time maybe it’s more true than ever, but how different is he really going to be? What, he’s lost some weight? He’s quicker? He’s a jiu-jitsu master who pulls guard now? Okay, the last one would be a significant change, but odds are he’s going to be more or less the same fighter, just an updated version. Again, nothing wrong with that. But you don’t get to be born anew before every fight. Especially not when you’ve been in this sport for ten freaking years.
VIII. The “media notes” the UFC has started handing out recently are, well, interesting. There’s some good information in the ten-plus pages of handouts. If you don’t live and breathe this sport (looking at you, local newspaper writer who probably won’t even show up until the main event), it catches you up on ‘spygate’ and on Hughes’ record of 18 UFC wins. But it also feels like some information is tossed in there just to fill white space. For instance, did you know Rothwell has “a technical degree in collision repair” from Waukesha County Technical College? Or that Hughes has an associate of arts degree from Lincoln Community College? I’m not sure what the UFC expects us to do with that information, but hey, the more you know, I guess.
IX. It’s a little weird to see Josh Koscheck being this nice. We’ve seen flashes of the old Kos this week, but the barbs have been few and not even all that prickly. When he said Hughes was in for a bad night, he seemed to actually feel a little bit bad about it. It’s as if he doesn’t want to beat Hughes up (or at least, not as much as he usual), but simply has no choice. Then again, he’s as fierce a competitor as Hughes is, he reminded us. It doesn’t matter if he’s fighting a former world champ or “a 12-year-old kid,” he wants to win. Who knew he could do it with such a congenial attitude? Well, congenial for him, anyway.
The 
Raise your hand if you think 
It’s been an interesting week in Denver, what with both 